There are great differences in what ‘Europe’ means from one country to another. What kind of historical experiences does the term convey and what expectations for the future does it evoke? When comparing discourses between and within European countries it becomes questionable to what extent a shared idea of ‘Europe’ exists.
This talk will take a close look at the meaning of ‘Europe’ when the term is used in relation to narratives about the past. The research draws on some 1,500 newspaper articles from six European countries. Articles were qualitatively analyzed and coded in order to develop an understanding of the conflicts underlying the very idea of ‘Europe,’ which the speaker will try to elucidate in the talk.
